DUP in first‐episode schizophrenia and its early prognosis in Japan

Abstract

DUP of first‐episode schizophrenia patients has recently been drawing a lot of attention, but there is no investigation in relation to early prognosis in Japan. The duration of first admission and neuroleptic dosage in 1 year after prescribing first neuroleptics have been studied.Subjects and method 83 consecutive patients of neuroleptic naïve first‐episode schizophrenia from two hospitals were investigated on its mean DUP. Furthermore, the mean duration (days) of first admission and chlorpromazine equivalent dosage(mg) in 1 year after first treatment were compared intwopatients groups. Group a DUP > 5 months, Group B < 5 months.Results The mean DUP was 13.7 months and the median was 5.0 months. The length of stay of first admission: group A: 121.1 days, and group B: 40.7 days (P=0.018). Chlorpromazine equivalent dosage in 1 year were 770.5 mg in group A, and 226.1 mg in group B (P=0.080).Discussion Correlation of DUP and GAF, length of first admission, and chlorpromazine dosage will be discussed.